Estimativa do índice de massa corporal a partir de medidas autorreferidas: qual a validade?

Luana Riris Maciel de Lima; Rodrigo Pegado de Abreu Freitas; Layla Rafaela Dantas Silva; Anna Cecília Queiroz de Medeiros

doi:10.4025/jphyseduc.v29i1.2907

Luana Riris Maciel de Lima Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte.
Rodrigo Pegado de Abreu Freitas Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
Layla Rafaela Dantas Silva Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
Anna Cecília Queiroz de Medeiros Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4025/jphyseduc.v29i1.2907

Keywords: Anthropometry. Validation studies. Nutritional status.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of self-reported measures for calculating body mass index (BMI) and nutritional status. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted on 1,000 students. Body weight and height were measured by a trained evaluator and were obtained by self-report of the participants. There was a trend towards underestimation of body weight by 0.3 kg and overestimation of height by 1.0 cm, which resulted in lower self-reported BMI compared to measured BMI (p <0.001; r = 0.34). Analysis of agreement with measured BMI showed very high reliability of self-reported BMI. The evaluation of nutritional status based on measured BMI resulted in an increase in the percentage of eutrophic individuals (+2.3%) and a decrease in obese individuals (-3.2%). This decrease was greater among men (-6.1%). A change in nutritional status classification occurred in 14.5% of the participants when evaluated by self-reported BMI. In conclusion, there is good agreement between self-reported and measured BMI, but the results suggest caution in the use of self-reported BMI alone or as a continuous variable. Categorized information seems to be more appropriate for the classification of nutritional status.